Railway-frog.



W. K. WERTZ L M. A'. PRUGH.

RAILWAY FROG.

APPLICATION HL'BD JULY s, 1912.

1,067,699, i Patented July 15, 1913.

L /iix- 'E E z III.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM K. VVERTZ AND MARION A. PRUGH, OF GREENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY-FROG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15,1913.

Application filed July 8, 1912. Serial No. 708,140.

way-Frogs, of which the following is a specification.

One object of this invention 1s to provide eficient means for securing the track rails to the frog body, the arrangement being preferably such that the fastening means is adapted to be used interchangeably at the toe and heel ends of the frog.

A further purpose is to provide the frog and rail-securing means with surfaces so inclined as to receive the flanges of guttered wheels and direct such wheels into and out of the frog without the racking or jolting usually incident to the passage of such wheels over rail intersections.

While the improved frog-is adapted for general use, it is designed with special reference to mine track service and is of distinctive form in that it is embodied in a one-piece structure having extensions at both ends to which the track rails are fastened by the new and efficient securing Il'lBElIlS.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan of the frog with the track rails connected thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a similar section on diagonal line 4--4 of Fig. 1. Figs. 5 and 6 are cross sections on lines 5-5 and 6 6, respectively, of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 illustrates in detail the several parts of the rail-fastening means. Figs. 8 and 9 are cross-sections illustrating modified features.

Referring to the drawings, the base 2 of the frog body is of flat-bottom construction for resting on cross ties or other suitable foundation, its outer longitudinal edges having the usual spike-receiving notches 2. The toe end of the body is formed with the arm-like extensions 3, the inner faces of which diverge outwardly as shown, and the heel end is formed with similar extensions 4.

5 are the wing or guard rails, 6 the point, and 7 the throat, the latter having the outer portion of its bottom inclined at 7 The wheel flange-ways or passages 8 between guard rails 5 and point are horlzontal through the central portion of the frog, as indicated at 8, Fig. 4, this horizontal formation extending nearly to the end of throat 7 as shown in the same view. At the heel end, the flange-ways are inclined downwardly and outwardly over body extensions 4, as indicated at 8, Fig. 2. The track rails 10 are entered between the pairs of end extensions 3 and 4, the inner surfaces of said extensions being shaped to fit the side contour of the rails as shown.

The preferred form of rail-securing means consists of two blocks 11 and an interposed tapered key 12. The outer faces of blocks 11 are shaped to iit the inner or adjacent sides of rails 10, and are also grooved longitudinally at 13 to embrace and slide relatively to heads 14 of pins 14, the latter projecting through passages in the rail webs and into recesses in the rail-liolding arms or extensions 3 or 4,-as the case may be. The grooved blocks 11 fit snugly around the pin heads 14 and force them outward into clamping engagement with the rails, and lwith the pins projecting into the frog extensions it is quite impossible for any of the connected'parts to niove independently. The engaging faces of blocks 11 and key 12 are formed respectively with intertitting longitudinal projections 11 and grooves 12, rendering vertical displacement. impossible. i I

For 'securing the key in position, it is formed with a longitudinal passage 15 for bolt 16, with one end of the bolt (either its head or nut end) confined in a depression 17 in throat 7. The depression is formed by recessing the throat downwardly from its top surface, as shown in Fig. 3, with slot 17 extending from the recess outwardly to the end of the throat, Figs. 3 and 6, so that the bolt may be dropped into place. By this means the bolt may be either inserted (fir removed without taking up the entire rog.

With the parts assembled, tightening of bolt 16 forces the key 12 between blocks 11, and the latter, in turn, clamp and hold the headed pins in rail-securing position. The outer end of the key may be provided with projections 18 to receive spikes that may be driven into the ties or other foundation. This key-securing expedient mayy be employed in lieu of bolt 16, or in conjunction therewith, or the key may be held in any other preferred way. In case the angle between the secured rails is too acute to provide space for the blocks and an interposed key, said three parts may be combined in a single key element 19, F ig. 9. Instead of pins 14, blocks 1l may be providedlwith projecting dowels 20, Fig. 8. i

It is characteristic of the invention that the fastening means may be used interchangeably at either end of the frog. The taper of the keys may be varied for frogs of different track-angles, as will be understood. The interchangeable blocks 11 are inclined and grooved or guttered' on their top surfaces at ll so that when used at the toe or throat end of the frog they provide sloping surfaces for the travel of the flanges of guttered wheels, directing them into and out of the frog with a minimum of jolt or jar, as will be understood. And the same is accomplished at the heel end by the inclines S". These inclined surfaces are not brought into play in the tra-verse of new or unworn wheels, such as illustrated in Fig. 4L, such wheels being carried wholly by their treads which roll on the rails and the frog point as well as on extremities 5 of the wing rails at the frog throat. But with guttered or worn wheels the flanges are lower and roll on the inclined surfaces, the latter directing the wheels over the frog without excessive j arring, preserving the track and the cars from excessive wear.

te claim l. The combination of a frog body having end extensions between which track rails are adapted to enter with the rails bearing against the extensions, blocks adapted to engage the inner sides of the rails, and a key entered between and movable longitudinally of the blocks.

2. The combination of a frog body having end extensions between which track rails are adapted to enter with the rails bearing against the extensions, blocks adapted to engage the inner sides of the rails, rail-engaging members at the outer sides of the blocks, and a key entered between and movable longitudinally of the blocks.

3. rl`he combination of a frog body having a pair of separated extensions at its toe end and a pair of separated extensions at its heel end, each of said pairs of extensions adapted to receive track rails therebetween, and rail-holding means adapted for use inten changeably at either end of the frog.

Lt. The combination of a frog body having end extensions between which track rails are adapted to enter with the rails and said extensions formed with registering pin passages, the passages in said extensions closed at their outer ends, pins entered in the passages, and pin-holding means.

The combination of a frog body having end extensions between which track rails are adapted to enter with the rails and said extensions formed with registering pin passages, pins entered in the passages and projecting from the adjacent faces of the rails with the opposite ends of the pins unsecured, and means entered between the rails and engaging` the projecting` pins and holding them in the pin passages.

(i. The combination of a frog bodj7 having end extensions between which track rails are adapted to enter with the rails and said extensions formed with registering pin passages, pins entered in the passages andheaded at their inner ends to engage the rails and unsecured at their outer ends and holding means engaging the headed ends of the pins.

7. The combination of a frog body having end extensions between which track rails are adapted to enter with the rails and said extensions having` registering pin passages, pins entered in the passages and projecting from the inner faces of the rails, blocks engiaging the inner sides of the rails and grooved to embrace and force outwardly the pins, and a key entered between the blocks.

8. The combination of a frog body having a pair of separated extensions at its toe end and a pair of separated extensions at its heel end, each of said pairs of extensions adapted to receive track rails therebetween, and rail-holding means adapted to be entered interchangeably between the rails at either end of the frog.

9. The combination of a frog body having a pair of separated extensions at its toe end and a pair of separated extensions at its heel end, each of said pairs of extensions adapted to receive track rails therebetween, four blocks-two adapted to engage the inner sides of the rails at one end of the frog with the other two blocks engaging the inner sides of the rails at the other end ofthe frog, and two keys each adapted to be entered between two of said blocks.

l0. The combination of a frog body having separated extensions at the toe end thereof with track rails adapted to be entered between and bearing against the extensions, blocks fitting against the inner sides of the rails with the top surfaces of the blocks inclined upwardly from their outer end to direct wheel anges into the frog, and a key entered between the blocks.

ll. The combination of a frog body having end projections between which the track rails are received with the rails bearing against the projections, blocks fitting the inner sides of the rails with space for a key between the blocks, and a key adapted to be entered between the blocks with interiitting longitudinal projections and depressions on the meeting faces of the wedge and blocks.

l2. The combination of a frog body having projections between which the track rails are entered, the extremity of the body intermediate the projections recessed down wardly from its top surface to form a boltreceiving cavity, a bolt adapted to be dropped into the cavity with the head or nut thereof conned in the cavity and with the bolt body extending outwardly between the body projections, and a rail-conning key adapted to be secured by said bolt.

13. The combination of a frog body having a throat inclined upwardly from its outer end, and a removable rail securing part beyond the throat having an inclined surface which forms a continuation of the inclined surface of the throat.

lll. The combination of a frog, and a removable rail-securing part fitting between the frog-connected rails and having an inclined top surface to direct the flanges of guttered wheels.

l5. A frog having rail connecting projections at the heel end thereof, said projections adapted to fit the outer sides of the rails with the top surfaces of the projections sloping upwardly for directing the flanges of guttered wheels, and removable means entered between the inner sides of the rails for securing the latter to the said projections.

16. A frog body having separated armlike extensions at its heel end with track rails overlapping the inner sides of the eX- tensions, means connecting together the rails and said extensions and holding them against independent longitudinal movement, the top faces of the overlapping portions of the arm-like extensions sloping downwardly toward their outer ends, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof we aiiX our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAlW K. WERTZ. MARION A. PRUGH. Witnesses:

H. L. EoHAR, HARRY HAZLETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

